From Publishers Weekly
Guilty of inducing boredom as well, this sordid, ill-written memoir by a retired thief and ex-addict adds little to one's knowledge of Burroughs, Ginsberg, Kerouac and the post-World War II drug scene. Typical of Huncke's remarks are that his father was a "miserable bastard," his mother "had a pair of legs on her that were really something, and she knew how to conduct herself," and that when he smelled an onion field he "first realized that there was something beyond all our petty personal quarrels and arguments." Variously a ship's cook and deckhand, Huncke preferred burglary, thievery, street beggary, acting as a shill for pickpockets, getting paid $10 by Kinsey to talk about his sexual experiences. Now on methadone, he preaches against the use of drugs and alcohol. Photos.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Drug addict, thief, and writer ( The Evening Sun Turned Crimson ), Huncke figures prominently in the legend of the Beat Generation; he appears as a character in several Beat works, including Jack Kerouac's On The Road, William Burroughs's Junkie, and John Clellon Holmes's Go. Here, in an easy, conversational style, Huncke recounts his life as an addict, his prison experiences, and his friendships with Burroughs, Ginsberg, and others. His memoir includes interesting views of Times Square and the East Village and documents the changing New York City drug scene since the 1940s. Huncke is a natural storyteller. His account of his life is sincere and authentic, unmarred by apology or sentimentalism. An important literary and sociological document, Guilty of Everything belongs in all research-level collections and would be a fine addition to many public library collections.
- William Gargan, Brooklyn Coll. Lib., CUNY
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
- William Gargan, Brooklyn Coll. Lib., CUNY
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
